Degradation of biodiversity results in severely depleted resources for industries such as fishing and forestry, with potentially irreversible consequences for the environment

Water crises

A significant decline in the quality and quantity of fresh water combines with increased competition among resource-intensive systems, such as food and energy production

Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation

Governments and businesses fail to enforce or enact effective measures to protect populations and to help businesses impacted by climate change to transition

Geopolitical

Global governance failure

Weak or inadequate global institutions, agreements or networks, combined with competing national and political interests, impede attempts to cooperate on addressing global risks

Political collapse of a nation of geopolitical importance

One or more systemically critical countries experience significant erosion of trust and mutual obligations between states and citizens, leading to state collapse, internal violence, regional or global instability and, potentially, military conflict

Increasing corruption

The widespread and deep-rooted abuse of entrusted power for private gain (by businesses and public officials) undermines the rule of law and governance

Major escalation in organized crime and illicit trade

Highly organized and very agile global networks commit criminal offences while the illegal trafficking of goods and people spreads unchecked throughout the global economy

Large-scale terrorist attacks

Individuals or non-state groups successfully inflict large-scale human or material damage, which is particularly problematic when decentralized and widespread

Deployment of weapons of mass destruction

The availability of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological technologies and materials leads to major international crises

Military actions or aggressive foreign or trade policies on the part of global or regional powers disrupt political or social stability, negatively impacting populations, investment and financial markets